The fortress known as Karim Khani Citadel today shows signs of age. There’s a tilting tower, missing columns and a Qu’ran missing. It’s almost 300 years old so all of this isn’t unexpected. The structure was the main residential palace of Karim Khan-e-Zand and his dynasty and later in the mid 20th century home to prisonersContinue reading “Good times…when the Zand Dynasty made Shiraz Persia’s Capital”
Category Archives: Iran
Tons of pictures of Shiraz: Another visit to the Valik Mosque
Late day light and visit to the Vakil Mosque It was the third day into my trip to Iran and my husband and I were ready to take out on our own. The jet lag had finally faded and the streets of Shiraz were becoming more familiar. We were on a “tour” but it wasContinue reading “Tons of pictures of Shiraz: Another visit to the Valik Mosque”
Pictures of Shiraz: First visit to the Vakil Mosque
The first visit to the Valik Mosque located or attached to the Valik Bazaar. The mosque, built between 1751 and 1773, is the best example of architecture constructed during the Zand Dynasty when Shiraz was the capital of Persia. It has withstood many earthquakes and invasions. The mosque is now a registered historical site andContinue reading “Pictures of Shiraz: First visit to the Vakil Mosque”
Iran: What’s on Tap?
After a long hot day on the Silk Road trail travelers like myself are looking for a comfortable seat, good company and a cold beverage to go along with it all. The there’s plenty of beer to choose from at the local packy. They usually come in flavors like pomegranate, lemon, lime, mango, peach and ofContinue reading “Iran: What’s on Tap?”
Ancient Persian Propaganda at Bishapur
The Shapur City or Bishapur is a city built by a defeated Roman Army and their Emperor Valerian. Shapur had many reliefs carved depicting his greatest victories in the battlefield and can still be seen along the sides of the Tang-e Chowgan gorge and under the graves entrances at Naqsh-e Rustam. Shapur is easy toContinue reading “Ancient Persian Propaganda at Bishapur”
Naqsh-e Rostam: Achaemenid Empire and Murderous Sibling Rivalry
Naqsh-e Rostam doesn’t look like more than a few holes in the side of a hill of limestone. This hill is where four great leaders of Persia once laid to rest – Darius the Great, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I and Darius II. These men lived at a time where brother killed brother in order to gainContinue reading “Naqsh-e Rostam: Achaemenid Empire and Murderous Sibling Rivalry”
Pasargadae: How Alexander the Great and UNESCO saved it
Pasargadae looks pretty barren today and its simple remains says nothing of how great of a leader Cyprus was to Persia. The limestone tomb contained a golden coffin which rested on top of a table also made of gold. Tall trees, flower beds, pools and waterways encircled the resting place of Cyprus the Great.Continue reading “Pasargadae: How Alexander the Great and UNESCO saved it”
Persepolis and a few “Great” Leaders
Persepolis is an amazing vision and one has to imagine what it must have looked like before Alexander the Great buried most of it to the ground. There are many theories Alexander did this despite the fact that he did admire Cyrus the Great and didn’t destroy his burial grounds. He even went so farContinue reading “Persepolis and a few “Great” Leaders”
Persepolis and the Shah’s Last Party
Persepolis is where the first Persian Achaemenid Empire celebratory capital and 2500 years later the site for a hell of a party hosted by Shah Reza and his lovely wife Farah. The ruins of Persepolis date back to 515 BC and Cyrus the Great chose its location and began its construction. Darius the Great firstContinue reading “Persepolis and the Shah’s Last Party”
Farflungistan 